Coroner: Colorado woman died of asphyxiation after falling on sand dune while intoxicated

Coroner: Sand Dunes death was from asphyxiation

ALAMOSA, Colo. — A coroner says a Colorado woman whose body was found at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve died after apparently falling face down while intoxicated, passing out and inhaling sand.

Alamosa County Coroner Mike Rogers said Wednesday that an autopsy indicated 27-year-old Kristin Weiss of Colorado Springs died of asphyxiation. He says there’s no indication of foul play or that Weiss had hypothermia.

Sheriff’s officials have said Weiss was wearing a tank top, T-shirt and jeans but no coat or shoes when her body was found Dec. 3, and that investigators believed she was traveling alone.

Information from: Valley Courier, www.alamosanews.com/